11. Understanding Mental Prayer: A Simple Guide

 

Mental prayer is a deeply personal form of connecting with God, allowing us to grow spiritually and strengthen our relationship with Him. It is not about repeating words but about meditating and reflecting on God's truths. In this guide, we will explore different aspects of mental prayer, making it easy to understand for everyone, regardless of their educational background.

The Three Stages of Mental Prayer

1. The Purgative Way:

   • This is where we start our journey. It is like cleaning our hearts and minds of things that take us away from God. Here, we meditate on things that help us turn away from sin and focus on repentance, like thinking about the truths of salvation or the consequences of sin. It’s about saying “sorry” to God and working to change ourselves.
   • Think of it as cleaning a garden before planting new flowers. We need to remove the weeds (our bad habits and sins) before we can plant beautiful flowers (good virtues).

2. The Illuminative Way:

   • In this stage, we begin to focus on building good habits and virtues. We continue to meditate, but now it’s more about understanding and loving God’s teachings and how we can live like Jesus. We think about His life, His sacrifices, and how we can follow His example in our own lives.
   • Imagine building a strong house. After clearing the land (purification), we now lay a strong foundation and start building the walls, which represent the virtues we need, like faith, hope, humility, and love.

3. The Unitive Way:

   • This is a more advanced stage where our relationship with God becomes very close. It’s like a deep friendship where just being together brings peace and joy. At this point, prayer becomes more about simple, loving conversations with God, rather than complex thoughts or words.
   • Picture it as enjoying a peaceful evening with a loved one, where sometimes words are not needed, just being in each other’s presence is enough.

Choosing the Right Kind of Prayer

Just like children use different tools as they grow older, our prayer style should also grow and change. For beginners, starting with structured meditation is helpful. For those who have made progress, more heartfelt or affective prayers, focusing on feelings and love for God, might be more beneficial. Advanced individuals may prefer simpler prayers, just resting in God’s presence.

It’s important not to rush into higher forms of prayer too quickly, just like a child should not try to use a grown-up’s tools. We need to be patient and grow step-by-step. The advice of a spiritual guide or mentor is very helpful in understanding what stage we are in.

Picking the Right Topic for Meditation

Choosing a suitable topic for meditation is like selecting the right medicine when we’re sick. If we simply go through a book of meditations without considering what our soul needs, we may end up making our prayer ineffective.

1. For Beginners: Meditate on things that remind you of the seriousness of life and the need for God’s help, like thoughts about eternity and God’s judgment. It’s about awakening a healthy fear and respect for God.

2. For Those Progressing: Focus on the virtues you want to grow in, like faith, hope, humility, and love. Think about the life of Jesus and how His actions can be a guide for your own life.

3. For the Advanced: Spend time in loving reflection on the mysteries of Jesus’ life, especially His Passion. It’s about deepening your love for God and being united with Him in your thoughts and heart.

Preparing for Mental Prayer

Before starting your prayer, it’s a good idea to think about what you will meditate on. This preparation helps keep your mind focused and avoids distractions. The night before or early in the morning, decide what you will meditate on. This is especially important if you pray in the dark or without a book.

Perseverance in Prayer

Prayer is not always easy. Sometimes it feels dry, like talking to an empty room. But this is when it is most important to keep going. St. Teresa of Avila encourages us to have a strong will to continue praying even when it’s difficult. Here’s why:

1. God Deserves Our Time: Just like a good friend who is always there for us, God deserves our time and attention. It’s a small way to thank Him for all He does for us.
2. The Devil is Afraid of Determined Souls: When we are strong and determined, the devil finds it hard to distract or discourage us. He knows that every time he tries to disturb us, we become even more focused and strong.
3. Determination Brings Success: If we resolve never to give up, we become stronger and more resistant to challenges. This perseverance will lead us to become people of deep and meaningful prayer.

How to Meditate on the Life of Jesus

St. Alphonsus Liguori suggests that thinking about Jesus’ life, especially His suffering and sacrifice for us, is the best way to meditate. Choose a part of His life, like His childhood, His teachings, or His suffering on the cross, and imagine being there with Him. Think about how He felt, what He did, and how much love He has for you. This kind of meditation fills our soul with love and gratitude.

St. Francis de Sales also recommends focusing on Jesus in all our prayers and actions. By doing so, our soul becomes filled with His presence, and we start to reflect His love and kindness in our own lives.

Conclusion

Mental prayer is not about doing everything perfectly or feeling great every time we pray. It’s about being honest with God and giving Him our time and attention, even when it’s hard. It’s a journey of growth, from cleaning out our hearts to filling them with love and finally uniting deeply with God.

So, whether you are just starting out or have been praying for a long time, remember that every small effort counts. Take it step-by-step, be patient with yourself, and always trust that God is guiding you. With courage and perseverance, mental prayer can lead us to a deep, fulfilling, and loving relationship with God.